Stadium Shortages Cause Israeli Soccer League's Break to Double
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The Israeli Premier League faces a 19-day break, twice as long as in Europe, due to stadium reseeding. This process, necessary for adapting grass to Israel's climate, is complicated by a shortage of stadiums shared by multiple teams. Unlike other nations, Israeli clubs cannot afford expensive pitch replacements or easily relocate. New stadium construction is seen as a potential long-term solution to shorten these breaks.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli soccer league faces a 19-day break for stadium reseeding, double the European norm.
- Reseeding is a three-week process to revitalize grass for Israel's distinct climate.
- Stadium overcrowding in Israel prevents teams from relocating during maintenance.
- Expensive pitch replacement, common elsewhere, is unaffordable for Israeli clubs.
- New stadium construction is hoped to eventually reduce the lengthy breaks.
The Israeli Premier League will endure a 19-day break, nearly double the duration of similar pauses in top European leagues, due to a stadium maintenance process known as "reseeding." While European teams will return to play after only a few days, Israeli football will wait until November 27th, a significant delay compared to leagues like the English Premier League, where Manchester United will play three matches before an Israeli team plays one.
Reseeding involves planting new grass within an existing lawn to revitalize it, a process requiring about three weeks for the grass to rest and adapt. In Israel, this is done twice annually, in November and March, to accommodate the country's Mediterranean climate, which necessitates different types of grass for summer and winter. This transition requires the league to halt play, a decision made about a decade ago to standardize the break across all stadiums.
Unlike some European leagues with month-long winter breaks for pitch maintenance, Israel's situation is exacerbated by a shortage of stadiums and heavy usage. Many stadiums host multiple teams, including in the second-tier National League, leaving little room for teams to relocate during reseeding periods. For example, the Netanya Stadium currently hosts Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Hadera, and historically has accommodated even more teams and events.
While other countries employ solutions like scheduling around away games, as seen with Almeria in Spain, or more expensive methods like full pitch replacement with artificial fibers, as done at Milan's San Siro, Israel faces limitations. The cost of full pitch replacement, around 500,000 euros, is prohibitive for Israeli clubs. The article suggests that the construction of new stadiums may eventually alleviate the congestion, but for now, the extended break is an unavoidable consequence of the current infrastructure and maintenance practices.
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